Power-transmission means



Feb. 26, 1929. 1,703,407

v. c. SHANK POWER TRANSMI SSION MEANS Filed July 18, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 26, 1929. 1,703,407

v v. c. SHANK POWER TRANSMIS S ION MEANS Filed July 18. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 :MIHIMMM "HIIIIIIMQ NK ll Ma ATTORN EY 17. a. ,S' hanh Patented Feb.- 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES.

1,703,401 PATENT OFFICE.

VICTOR C. SHANE, OF FORT MONROE, VIRGINIA.

POWER-TRANSMISSION MEANS.

Application filed July 18, 1927. Serial No. 206,722.

This invention relates to a power transmitting device of the fluid type, the general object of the invention being to PIOVIdB a casing which forms part of the driven memher and an impeller which is arranged in the casing and which forms the driving member, with fluid containing chambers 1n the 1mpeller and casing having vanes therein so arranged that when the impeller is rotating, the fluid in the chambers thereof will be given motion through the action of centrifugal force and this moving fluid, acting on the vanes in the chambers of the casing, will impart movement to the casing.

Another object of the invention is to so arrange the parts that the ratio of transmission is automatically increased in pro ortion to the increase of speed of the impel er and also in proportion to the amount of the resistance offered by the casing or member being impelled.

A still further object of the invention is to so arrange the chambers that the thrust on one side of the impeller is equalized by the thrust on the other side so that no thrust bearings are necessary for the device.

This invention also conslsts in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, 11- lustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation showlng one manner of carrying out the invention.

Figure 2 is a section on hne 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an inner face View of one of the end pieces of the casing.

Figure 4? is a face view of the impeller.

Figure 5 is a section on line 55 of Figure 3.

In these views, A indicates a casing which comprises the ring-shaped part 1 and the end parts 2 and 3, the end part 2 being fastened to a shaft 4 and a shaft 5 passes through the other end part and into a socket formed in the inner face of the end part 2, so that this shaft 5 is rotatably mounted in the casing. An impeller 6 is fastened to the shaft 5 and is arranged within the casing and this impeller has an annular chamber 7 formed-in each face thereof, each chamber being of semi-circular shape in cross section. A similar shaped chamber 8 is formed in the inner face of each end part and the chambers of the end parts register with the chambers in the impe ler. A suitable fluid is adapted to be placed in the two sets of chambers, filling openings closed by the plugs 9, being formed in the end parts to permit this fluid to be placed in the chambers. A pluralit of vanes or blades 10 is arranged in eac chamber, the vanes being radially arranged and extending inwardly from the outer walls of each chamber. Some of the vanes or blades extend entirely across the chamber and act as partitions 10 for entirely separating parts of the chambers from each other. The other blades or vanes terminate different distances from the inner wall of each chamber and these short vanes are placed between the long vanes 10, as clearly shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5.

A brake band 11*may be placed around the ring-shaped part 1 of the casing to check or prevent movement of the casing, this band being contracted through means of the lever 12 having a cam 13 thereon for engaging one of the ears of the band.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the shaft 5 is rotated from any suitable source of power, the impeller 6 will rotate within the casing and this movement of the impeller will impart motion to the fluid in its chambers, under the action of centrifugal force so that this fluid will flow toward the outer walls of the chambers, passing between the blades or vanes and entering the chambers at the ends of the casing and this fluid will pass axially through the chambers in the casing and return to the chambers of the impeller at the inner sides of said chamber. Thus the fluid is given a whirling motion and as it leaves the impeller, it will strike the blades of the casing and thus impart movement to the casing. The arrangement of parts provides transmission means of great flexibility and in Which the ratio of transmission is automatically increased in proportion to the speed of the impeller and to the load-or resistance offered by the member being impelled. By having the chambers oppositely arranged on the impeller, the thrust of the fluid on one side is equalized by the thrust of the fluid on the opposite side and by forming the chambers as shown and specified, the danger of leakage is minimized and it. is'simply necessary to make. a tight joint between the separate parts of the casing and to provide the packing gland 14 where the shaft 5 leaves the raising. The fluid leaves the chambers of the impeller with great force, but as it enters these chambers close to the axis, its force is greatly diminished as it flows back into the chambers of the impeller.

\Vhile the invention may be used wherecver desired, it is especially useful fortransmission means of a motor vehicle, due to its great flexibility and to the fact that the ratio of transmission automatically increases in proportion to the increase in speed of the impeller.

\Vhat 1 claim is v 1. An apparatus for transmitting power comprising a casing having an annular chamber in one end thereof, said chamber being of semi-circular shape in cross section and an impeller rotatably mounted in the casing and having an annular chamber therein also of semi-circular shape in cross section and registering with the chamber in the casing, the large part of each chamber opening out through the face or end of its carrying member, with the mouth of each chamber unobstructed, a fluid in the space formed by the two chambers and vanes in each chamber.

2. An apparatus for transmitting power comprising a casing having an. annular chamber in one end thereof, said chamber being of semi-circular shape in cross section and an impeller rotatably mounted in the casing and having an annular chamber therein also of semi-circular shape in cross section and registering with the chamber in the casing, a fluid in the space formed by the two chambers, vanes in each chamber, some of the vanes extending entirely across the chamber and being of the same height as the depth of the chan'iber and others terminating short of the inner walls of the chamber.

3. An apparatus for transmitting power com n-ising a casing having an annular chamber in one end thereof, said chamber being of semi-circular shape in cross section and an impeller rotatably mounted in the casing and having an annular chamber therein also of semi-circular shape in cross section and registering with the chamber in the casing, a fluid in the space formed by the two chambers, vanes in each chamber, said vanes being of different lengths and all the vanes extending inwardly from the outer walls of each chamber.

4. An apparatus for transmitting power comprising a casing, an annular chamber on the inner face of each end piece thereof, eaih chamber being of semi-circular shape in cross section, an impeller in the casing, an annular chamber on each face of the impeller of semi-circular shape in cross section, the chambers of the impeller registering with those 01": the casing, blades of different lengths in each chamber extending inwardly from the outer walls of the chamber and means for introducing a fluid into the spaces formed by the two sets of chambers.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

VICTOR G. SHANK. 

